''Mecaphesa asperata'', the northern crab spider, is a species of

crab spider The Thomisidae are a family of spiders, including about 170 genera and over 2,100 species. The common name crab spider is often linked to species in this family, but is also applied loosely to many other families of spiders. Many members of thi ...

in the family

Thomisidae The Thomisidae are a family of spiders, including about 170 genera and over 2,100 species. The common name crab spider is often linked to species in this family, but is also applied loosely to many other families of spiders. Many members of thi ...

, found in North and Central America, and the Caribbean. It is a species of the 'flower spiders', so-called because they generally hunt in similarly coloured flowers for visitors such as bees and flies, and is a much smaller

nearctic The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface. The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...

relative of the better-known Goldenrod Spider (''

Misumena vatia ''Misumena vatia'' is a species of crab spider found in Europe and North America. In North America, it is called the goldenrod crab spider or flower (crab) spider,Acorn, John and Sheldon, Ian. (2003). ''Bugs of Ontario'' Edmonton: Lone Pine Publ ...

)''. ''Mecaphesa asperata'' was formerly in the genus '' Misumenops'' under the name ''Misumenops asperatus''. Howell (2004) provides the following diagnostic/identifying characteristics: "''M. asperatus'' is distinguished from '' Misumenoides'' and '' Misumena'' in that the carapace, abdomen and legs are distinctively covered with numerous short stiff spines. The ocular region is white. On the anterior half, the abdomen has red streaks laterally. On the posterior half, the abdomen has a mottled brown to red-brown V-shaped mark pointed towards the posterior. All legs are yellow, except the tibia and metatarsus I bear red annuli."

References

External links

* Thomisidae Articles created by Qbugbot Spiders described in 1847 Spiders of North America {{thomisidae-stub